Skip to main content

Error code 0xc18a0106 on HP Photosmart printers


Solution 1:
  • Push "OK", "Cancel", "Black" and "Color" all at once while turning the printer off.
  • Turn it back on. 
  • One more time: push "OK", "Cancel", "Black" and "Color" all at once while turning the printer off.
  • Turn it back on.

Solution 2: Resetting the product:
  • Without turning off the product, disconnect the USB cable from the rear of the product.
  • Remove the cartridges from the product.
  • Wait for the "Insert Cartridges" message on the control panel.
  • Disconnect the power cord from the back of the product.
  • Wait 60 seconds.
  • Reconnect the power cord. If the product does not automatically turn on, press the Power button.
  • Reinsert the cartridges, and then close any open doors on the product.
  • If you receive a prompt to print a calibration page, do so.
  • Reconnect the USB cable to the rear of the product, and then try printing again.

Solution 3:
  • 1. Get the unit into the “Support Menu” by following these steps: Press and hold the “*” key. Press the “#” key and release both keys. Display should say “Enter Special Key Combo”. Press and release in sequence the “1”, “2” and “3” buttons. Display should say “Support"
  • 2. Press and release the right arrow button until the display says “System Configuration Menu”.
  • 3. Press and release the “OK” button.
  • 4. Display should say “Hardware failure status”. If not there already, Arrow Key over to “Hardware failure status”,
  • 5. Press and release the “OK” button.
  • 6. Display should say “Hardware failure status: Clear. Press OK to clear”.
  • 7. Press and release the “OK” Button. Message changes to “Hardware failure status Cleared. Press Cancel to continue”.
  • 8. Press and release the “CANCEL” button as many times as necessary, so that, either the “Welcome to Photosmart Express” screen appears, or, the “Ink System Failure” screen appears. DO NOT TRY TO PRINT AT THIS STAGE.
  • 9. Using the Power Button, turn the unit OFF and unplug the power cable from back of the printer and wall outlet.
  • 10. Wait 30 seconds for the power to get discharged and then plug the power cable into the wall outlet first and then into the back of the printer
  • 11. Turn the unit on. The printer may display message “USE POWER BUTTON TO SHUTDOWN THE PRINTER” followed by “PRESS OK TO CONTINUE”. Press OK.
  • 12. If the printer has already initialized, then go to the next step. If not, the printer will start the “ONE TIME INK INITIALIZATION PROCESS”. Allow this process to complete and do not interrupt. Once the initialization process is complete, the printer will print out a Diagnostic Page.
  • 13. To verify printer functionality print a SELF TEST PAGE. If SELF TEST prints, then printer is ready for use or Software Installation.
  • 14. If the error is still there, or reoccurs replace the unit.

Comments

Mather said…
This worked, Thank you!
Polina said…
* button on the printer or the keyboard? cause I dont have one on the printer. I have tried millions of so called support things, but nothing works!
bricci_mn said…
Polina, have you got an HP Photosmart in front of you?
The asterisk/star button is among, or on the side of the printer's keyboard (it MUST have it, if it is a fax device...)
TB said…
I do not see the "system configuration menu" option. What now?
D M said…
I had the same problem accessing the system configuration menu. Anyways I found a website that explains how to access the system configuration menu on many different HP printers.

To access this menu on a HP Photosmart C8180 hit the red-eye removal button, then the print photos button, then the red-eye removal button again.
D M said…
I had the same problem accessing my system configuration menu. Below is a link that describes how to do this with different HP printers

http://www.out-of-warranty.com/ink-system-failure-error-0xc18a-hp/

My HP Photosmart C8180, I had to hit the red-eye removal button, then the print photos button and then the red-eye removal button again
Anonymous said…
this worked for me too~ thanks!
Anonymous said…
Solution 1 worked for me after replacing several expired ink cartridges in my 3310xi. Thank you!
Anonymous said…
It finally worked after using option 3!!! Thank you
Anonymous said…
Wow, thank you. You saved a printer from the trash. Way to help the environment and my pocketbook! I needed solution #3.
Tim, Minneapolis
don julien said…
don Julien said the third instruction did the job.
I am very happy indeed.

Thank You computer for fixing yourself.
Unknown said…
Thank you so much, It worked.
Serra said…
None of these worked for me. :[
HP User said…
I have an HP Photosmart D7260 and tried step 3, which worked! Thank goodness. Just follow the steps it will fix it.
Unknown said…
thx a lot!

Solution 1 worked for me on a hp3200!
Anonymous said…
Step 3 worked for my HP Photosmart c7280!! THANK YOU wow am I glad I kept searching I really appreciate this article. This is the fix. Thanks.
Anonymous said…
Solution 3 worked for my 6180
Unknown said…
This helped me so much, thank you!!!!! I found solution 2 a few days ago but it wouldn't work, I'm so glad i found this page because solution 1 did the trick. Thank you so, so much!
Anonymous said…
awesome - fixed!
Ozzy said…
Extremely Helpful!

Thanks a million, saved my day.
Anonymous said…
i have a HP3210 all in one printer..i get the same error..i don't have the Sistem Configuration Menu..only Support / Information / FaX/Diag / Print Test / ...any ideea how to get rid of that error?
J.Lassalle said…
Hi,

If you still have the error, the printhead is probably defective.
Anonymous said…
Thank you so much for posting not one, but three possible solutions! I was just starting to give up hope, as I have tried many different troubleshooting suggestions with no success. Solution 3 worked like a charm on my HP C7280. The steps were very clear and concise. This post was extremely helpful and for that I am grateful!!!
Anonymous said…
I ran Solution 3 which cleared the 0xc18a0106 error code. However, running the printer Self Test Report resulted in no printing and ink spewed on the paper on blobs. My C6180 no longer has any error codes but prints nothing. I tried Printhead Cleaning and Alignment but to no avail. Also, the ink spewing pretty much emptied my ink cartridges.
Unknown said…
hi. got a gift from my sister of HP C6280 (barely used) and promised I would try to fix. did the usual replace cartridges etc but this post and solution #3 brought it back from beyond. nothing lasts forever but nice to be able to get a few family snaps out before the elephant graveyard. merci beaucoup
Anonymous said…
If you have a C5180 and want to access menu for solution 3;
Hold left key and press the settings key. Special key combo is OK key.
Anonymous said…
Step 3 worked!
Anonymous said…
Have C8180. Step 3 worked!
Unknown said…
Many thanks. The third solution is perfect!
Linda in SC said…
I had to go through all three solutions before I found the one that worked for my HP Photosmart C150. Lucky #3 was the ticket! Thank you so very much!

Popular posts from this blog

How to fix error B200 on canon Printers

MAJ11/06/17 Error B200 means the printhead voltage or temperature is not normal. The Printhead could be defective.... but first, try these solutions below: Solution 1 : Disconnect the power cable from the printer. Wait 1 hour. Connect the power cable Solution 2 : Check and Clean Head contact pin condition of the carriage unit Check Cable connection especially the carriage FFC Solution 3 : Turn off the power Open the panel Turn on the power Wait for print carriage to start moving to the left. Let it go past half way Before print carriage reaches left hand side shut the cover. Leave the Printer turned on Solution 4 : Unplug the power cable. Open the printer Push the whole print head mechanic to the center While the printer still open, plug the power and turn it ON.  When the printhead still moving and is going to the very LEFT, close the cover.  Wait until its boot up.  Solution 4a: Take out all of the ink cartridges Lift up the gr

How to solve error code 006 with Canon Service Tool V3400

MAJ 25/08/17 The Service Tool V3400 allow to reset the counter of some Canon printers. For the error code 006 , try this : Solution 1: Check your cartridges: an empty cartridge can lead to error 006 Solution 2 : After you avec clicked on "Main", wait a few minutes.  If the error still here, restarts the Service Tool Solution 3 : Close the service tool Disconnect the USB cable from the printer After 10 seconds, plug back the cable to the printer On Windows, click next when appears "New device" Open the service tool

How to solve error B204 on Canon Maxify printers

The error B204 could happen after a cartridge replacement. First of all, when installing, remove the cartridges from the plastic package, but do not drill any plastic membranes, as this will cause this error when placing the cartridge. The error may also appear if you change a completely empty cartridge: when installing a full cartridge, the printer enters a cleaning cycle, but the printhead has not yet received ink from the newly inserted cartridge. Here are some tips to cancel this error B204:: Solution 1: Remove the cartridges Power the printer for 2 minutes Switch on the printer Install the cartrdiges Solution 2: Switch on the printer Unplug  the power cable Open the cover Move the print head carriage manually to the usual place where it goes for the cartridge change (If the printhead carriage is not movable, reconnect and then turn on the printer, then unplug it again when the head carriage is in the moving position). Change the cartridges. Close the fr